Former Lorain police officer wants record sealed

ELYRIA — Former Lorain police Officer Emilio Morales is trying to have his criminal case sealed from public view.

Morales, 52, pleaded guilty in 2011 to misdemeanor charges of tampering with records in exchange for prosecutors dropping more serious felony charges. Morales was later sentenced to one year of good behavior and ordered to pay $500 in fines.

The case centered on allegations that Morales had worked two off-duty security jobs for Faith House Academy and the Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority simultaneously in October and November 2008.

The veteran officer was fired in December 2008 after an internal police investigation. As part of his plea agreement, Morales agreed never to seek work in law enforcement again and surrendered his police certificate.

Mike Duff, Morales’ attorney, said his client isn’t looking for a job in law enforcement, but he declined to say what industry Morales now worked in or where he was living.

“He wants to put this behind him,” Duff said.

Before Morales entered his plea in the case, Duff had argued that his client wasn’t alone among Lorain police in working more than one off-duty job at a time. He suggested that Morales was singled out for prosecution because of “personal animosity,” an allegation rejected by prosecutors.

A hearing on sealing the record that had been scheduled for Thursday was pushed back until May to give prosecutors time to reply to the request.

Although county Prosecutor Dennis Will did not return a call seeking comment, Duff said his understanding is prosecutors oppose expungement.